Lighting system control method

ABSTRACT

A lighting-system control method applied to the lighting-system including a light source and an ultrasonic transmitting-and-receiving device is provided. The method comprises steps of: determining a distance between an object and the ultrasonic transmitting-and-receiving device by the ultrasonic transmitting-and-receiving device according to a flight time of an ultrasonic-wave; changing a first light property of the light source when the object is detected moving toward the ultrasonic transmitting-and-receiving device; and changing a second light property of the light source when the object is detected moving away from the ultrasonic transmitting-and-receiving device.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a lighting-system control method, andmore particularly to a lighting-system control method employingultrasonic-waves.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The light-emitting diode (LED) converts a forward current into light. Ina forward-biased PN junction of the LED, minority carriers are injectedacross the junction and diffused into the P and N regions. The diffusedminority carriers then recombine with the majority carriers. Suchrecombination gives rise to light emission.

LEDs are very popular elements. They can function as a light source forproducing light in a variety colors and wavelengths. In an LED-lightingsystem, a light source includes a red LED, a green LED, and a blue LED,and a variety of colors can be produced by changing intensities of theseLEDs. Conventionally, controlling the illuminations or colors of thelight source is usually achieved through an operation interface, such asa button or a knob. Today, an infrared transmitting-and-receiving deviceis implemented in the lighting system for controlling the light sourceto output light with a specific illumination or color.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a conventional lighting system disclosed ina patent No. W2006/056814, where the lighting system adopts the infraredtransmitting-and-receiving device for controlling the light source. Asindicated, the lighting system 50 includes an infraredtransmitting-and-receiving device 60 and a light unit 61. When an object70, say, user's hand, enters a detectable zone of the infraredtransmitting-and-receiving device 60, an infrared-wave 62, emitted fromthe infrared transmitting-and-receiving device 60, will be reflected bythe object 70, and the reflected infrared-wave 63 is then received by areceiver 71 within the infrared transmitting-and-receiving device 60.According to the magnitude of the reflected infrared-wave 63 and thedistance between the object 70 and the infraredtransmitting-and-receiving device 60, the changes of the position of theobject 70 related to the infrared transmitting-and-receiving device 60is obtained. The lighting system 50 can control the light unit 61 tooutput light with a specific illumination or light color according tothe changes of the position of the object 70.

However, adopting the infrared transmitting-and-receiving device 60 inthe lighting system 50 results in some obvious defects. For example, theaccuracy of the infrared transmitting-and-receiving device 60 is easilyaffected by the illumination around the infraredtransmitting-and-receiving device 60. Moreover, the operation range ofthe infrared transmitting-and-receiving device 60 is limited to about 30cm due to the magnitude decreasing of the reflected infrared-wave 63.

Instead of the infrared transmitting-and-receiving device, theultrasonic transmitting-and-receiving device can be implemented in thelighting system. Using the ultrasonic transmitting-and-receiving devicefor determining the distance between an object and the ultrasonictransmitting-and-receiving device is a well-known technique. When anobject enters a detectable zone of the ultrasonictransmitting-and-receiving device, an ultrasonic-wave, emitted from theultrasonic transmitting-and-receiving device, will be reflected by theobject, and the reflected ultrasonic-wave, called echo signal, is thenreceived by the ultrasonic transmitting-and-receiving device. The periodbetween the ultrasonic transmitting-and-receiving device emitting theultrasonic-wave and the ultrasonic transmitting-and-receiving devicereceiving the echo signal is defined as TOF (time of flight). Obviously,the value of TOF is proportional to the distance between the object andthe ultrasonic transmitting-and-receiving device.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the lighting system having an ultrasonictransmitting-and-receiving device for controlling the light source. Asshown in FIG. 2, the lighting system includes: a light source 11 and anultrasonic transmitting-and-receiving device 12. The light source 11 isLEDs, and further includes of a red LED (R), a green LED (G), and a blueLED (B). When an object 13 enters a detectable zone of the ultrasonictransmitting-and-receiving device 12, an ultrasonic-wave, emitted fromthe ultrasonic transmitting-and-receiving device 13, will be reflectedby the object 13. The echo signal is then received by the ultrasonictransmitting-and-receiving device 12. According to the value of TOF, amicroprocessor in the lighting system (not shown in FIG. 2) candetermine the distance R between the object 13 and the ultrasonictransmitting-and-receiving device 12. The lighting system then generatesa control signal according to the distance R for controlling the lightsource 11 to output light with specific light properties (such as coloror light illumination). For example, the light source 11 of the lightingsystem can be designed to output light with a first color if thedistance R between the object 13 and the ultrasonictransmitting-and-receiving device 12 is determined to be R1; the lightsource 11 outputs light with a second color if the distance R is R2; thelight source 11 outputs light with a third color if the distance R is R3and so on. Or, the light source 11 outputs light with a firstillumination if the distance R is R1, a second illumination if thedistance R is R2, a third illumination if the distance R is R3 and soon.

However, the above-mentioned lighting system cannot control more thanone light property through the change of the distance R. In other words,the lighting system is only capable of changing either the light coloror the light illumination. Moreover, due to the limit of the distance Rbetween the object 13 and the ultrasonic transmitting-and-receivingdevice 12, the number of light with different light properties isaccordingly limited.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The objective of the invention is for publishing a lighting-systemcontrol method utilizing ultrasonic waves to measure distances, so thatthe lighting system is capable of controlling both the light color andthe light illumination, or other light characteristics, and theefficiency of the light system is enhance.

To achieve said objective, the present invention provides solutions asbellow.

The present invention discloses a lighting-system control method appliedto the lighting-system including a light source and an ultrasonictransmitting-and-receiving device. The method comprises steps of:determining a distance between an object and the ultrasonictransmitting-and-receiving device according to a flight time of anultrasonic-wave, wherein light properties of the light source can bechanged if the distance is maintained in a specific range over aspecific period; changing a first light property of the light source andkeeping a second light property of the light source unchanged when theobject is detected moving toward the ultrasonictransmitting-and-receiving device; and changing the second lightproperty of the light source and keeping the first light property of thelight source unchanged when the object is detected moving away from theultrasonic transmitting-and-receiving device.

Moreover, the present invention provides lighting-system control methodapplied to the lighting-system including a light source and anultrasonic transmitting-and-receiving device. The method comprises stepsof: switching to a standby mode when the lighting system is turned on;determining a distance between an object and the ultrasonictransmitting-and-receiving device according to a flight time of anultrasonic-wave; switching the lighting system from the standby mode toan enable mode if the distance is maintained in a specific range over aspecific period; changing a first light property of the light source andkeeping a second light property of the light source unchanged if theobject is detected moving toward the ultrasonictransmitting-and-receiving device when the lighting system is operatingin the enable mode; changing the second light property of the lightsource and keeping the first light property of the light sourceunchanged if the object is detected moving away from the ultrasonictransmitting-and-receiving device when the lighting system is operatingin the enable mode; and switching the lighting system to the standbymode if the object is not detected.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above objects and advantages of the present invention will becomemore readily apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art afterreviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings,in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a conventional lighting system disclosed inthe patent No. W2006/056814;

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the lighting system having an ultrasonictransmitting-and-receiving device for controlling the light source;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the lighting system of the present inventionhaving the ultrasonic transmitting-and-receiving device for controllingthe light source;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the process of the lighting system of thepresent invention changing the first and second light properties;

FIG. 5A is a diagram showing the positions of the object related to theultrasonic transmitting-and-receiving device during the process of thelighting system controlling light properties;

FIG. 5B is a diagram showing the changes of the TOF during the processof the lighting system controlling light properties;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an order of a plurality of light-propertyparameter sets for changing the light properties in the lighting system;

FIG. 7A is a table showing twelve sets of light-property parameter,where each light-property parameter set includes three parametersstanding for the power of the R, G, B LEDs; and

FIG. 7B is a table showing ten sets of light-property parameter.

Elements included in the figures of the invention are listed as follows:

-   -   Light source 11, 21    -   Ultrasonic transmitting-and-receiving device 12    -   Object 13, 23    -   Lighting system 50    -   Infrared transmitting-and-receiving device 60    -   Light unit 61    -   Infrared-wave 62    -   Reflected infrared-wave 63    -   Object 70    -   Receiver 71

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention mainly employs ultrasonic-waves for determining adistance between an object (such as user's hand) and an ultrasonictransmitting-and-receiving device in an ultrasonic-wave sensing region,determining the moving direction of the object through logic or signalprocessing, and then changing the light properties (such as light coloror light illumination) according to the moving direction of the object.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the lighting system of the present inventionhaving the ultrasonic transmitting-and-receiving device for controllingthe light source. As shown in FIG. 3, the lighting system includes: alight source 21 and an ultrasonic transmitting-and-receiving device 22.The light source 21 is LEDs, and further includes a red LED (R), a greenLED (G), and a blue LED (B). The light source 21 and the ultrasonictransmitting-and-receiving device 22 can together combined to alighting-system module. In the lighting-system module, the ultrasonictransmitting-and-receiving device 22 serves to output ultrasonic-waves,and receive ultrasonic-waves reflected from the object. Or, theultrasonic transmitting-and-receiving device 22 can be divided to twocomponents, one for outputting the ultrasonic-waves, and the other forreceiving the reflected ultrasonic-waves from the object.

When the lighting system is turned on, the lighting system enters astandby mode. In the standby mode, the light properties of the lightsystem, such as light color or light illumination, are maintained in theprevious states of the last time when the user turned off the lightingsystem.

When user plans to change the light properties, the lighting system mustfirst enter an enable mode. User can control the lighting system toswitch to the enable mode by moving an object 23 to a detectable zone ofthe ultrasonic transmitting-and-receiving device 22, and keeping theobjects 23 at a same position over a specific period (such as onesecond). Obviously, switching the lighting system to the enable mode canbe achieved by using devices of a remote controller or a switch fixed ona wall.

In the enable mode, the lighting system can change the light properties(such as light color or light illumination) according to the movingdirection of the object 23 in the detectable zone. As shown in FIG. 3,the lighting system will change the first light property (such as lightcolor) if the object 23 is detected to move toward the ultrasonictransmitting-and-receiving device 22. The change of the light color canbe cyclically or randomly. In other words, if user plans to change thefirst light property, user moves the object 23 toward the ultrasonictransmitting-and-receiving device 22; it follows that the first lightproperty changes cyclically or randomly. Specifically, once the object23 is detected moving toward the ultrasonic transmitting-and-receivingdevice 22, the lighting system will keep changing the first lightproperty cyclically or randomly. When the light color is changed touser's desire, then user can move the object 23 out of the detectablezone or move the object 23 in different directions. Accordingly thelighting system stops changing the first light property, and the firstlight property (ex. light color) is then maintained at the desiredstate.

Similarly, as indicated in FIG. 3, the lighting system will change thesecond light property (such as light illumination) if the object 23 isdetected to move away from the ultrasonic transmitting-and-receivingdevice 22. The change of the light illumination can also be cyclicallyor randomly. In other words, if user plans to change the second lightproperty, user moves the object 23 away from the ultrasonictransmitting-and-receiving device 22; it follows that the second lightproperty changes cyclically or randomly. Specifically, once the object23 is detected moving away from the ultrasonictransmitting-and-receiving device 22, the lighting system will keepchanging the second light property cyclically or randomly. When thelight illumination is changed to user's desire, then user can move theobject 23 out of the detectable zone or move the object 23 in differentdirections. Accordingly the lighting system stops changing the secondlight property, and the second light property (ex. light illumination)is then maintained at the desired state.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the process of the lighting systemchanging the first and second light properties. As indicated, first thelighting system is powered on (step 31); the lighting system then entersthe standby mode (step 32). In the standby mode, the first and secondlight properties are maintained in the previous states. When user movesthe object 23 into the detectable zone of the ultrasonictransmitting-and-receiving device 22, and keeps the object 23 at thesame position over a specific period (such as one second), the lightingsystem switches to the enable mode (step 33). In the enable mode, thelighting system cyclically or randomly changes the first light property(such as light color) if the object 23 is detected moving toward theultrasonic transmitting-and-receiving device 22, and the lighting systemstops changing the first light property and maintains the first lightproperty (such as light color) if the object 23 is detected moving outof the detectable zone or moving in other directions (step 34). Thelighting system cyclically changes the second light property (such aslight illumination) if the object 23 is detected moving away from theultrasonic transmitting-and-receiving device 22, and the lighting systemstops changing the second light property (such as light illumination)and maintains the second light property if the object 23 is detectedmoving out of the detectable zone or moving in other directions (step35). After the object 23 is detected moving out of the detectable zoneby the ultrasonic transmitting-and-receiving device 22, the lightingsystem is switched to the standby mode (step 36).

Following is an example for specifically illustrating the lightingsystem of the present invention changing the light properties from theuser's view and the lighting system's view. FIG. 5A is a diagram showingthe positions of the object 23 related to the ultrasonictransmitting-and-receiving device 22 during the process of the lightingsystem controlling light properties. In the illustrated example, thelighting system is assumed to switch to the enable mode if the object 23is detected in the detectable zone and maintained at a same positionover one second. The lighting system is assumed to cyclically change thelight color if the object 23 is detected moving toward the ultrasonictransmitting-and-receiving device 22; and the lighting system is assumedto cyclically change the light illumination if the object 23 is detectedmoving away from the ultrasonic transmitting-and-receiving device 22.

First, at time point t0, the lighting system is operating in the standbymode when the lighting system is turned on and the light properties aremaintained in the previous states (for example, light color is white andlight illumination is extremely strong). At time point t1, user plans tochange the light properties and then user moves the object 23 (such asuser's hand) to the detectable zone and keeps the object 23 at the sameposition until time point t2. The period between time points t1 and t2is, for example, one second. In this way, the lighting system isswitched to the enable mode at time point t2. During the period betweentime point t2 and t3, the object 23 maintains at the same position andthe light properties do not change. During the period between time pointt3 and time point t4, user determines to change the first light property(ex. light color) first, and user starts to move the object 23 towardthe ultrasonic transmitting-and-receiving device 22. In this way,lighting system is cyclically changing the light color. Until time pointt4, the light color is changed to user's desire (for example, the lightcolor is pink) and user turns to change the second light property (ex.light illumination), and then user starts to move the object 23 awayfrom the ultrasonic transmitting-and-receiving device 22 (at time pointt4, light color is pink and light illumination is radiant). Between timepoint t4 and time point t5, user keeps moving the object 23 away fromthe ultrasonic transmitting-and-receiving device 22, and the lightingsystem is cyclically changing the light illumination as preset. Betweentime point t5 and time point t6, because user does not decide the neededlight illumination, user is still keeping the object 23 at the sameposition and the light illumination is still changing. It is noted that,between time point t5 and time point t6, user does not move the object23 out of the detectable zone or toward another direction, the lightingsystem is cyclically changing the light illumination as preset. At timepoint t6, the light illumination is changed to user's desire (forexample, the light illumination is dim). However, user desires to changethe light color from pink to other color at the time, so user starts tomove the object 23 toward the ultrasonic transmitting-and-receivingdevice 22 (at the time, light color is pink and light illumination isdim). During the period between time point t6 and time point t7, userkeeps moving the object 23 toward the ultrasonictransmitting-and-receiving device 22. In this way, the lighting systemis cyclically changing the light color as preset. Between time point t7and time point t8, because user does not decide the needed light color,user is still keeping the object 23 at the same position and the lightcolor is still changing. It is noted that, between time point t7 andtime point t8, user does not move the object 23 out of the detectablezone or toward another direction, the lighting system is cyclicallychanging the light color as preset. At time point t8, the light color ischanged to user's desire (for example, light color is blue). When boththe light color and light illumination are changed to user's desire (attime point t8, light color is blue and light illumination is dim), andthen user starts to move the object 23 out of the detectable zone andaccordingly the lighting system is switched to the standby mode.

The above-mention example is illustrated again from the lightingsystem's view. FIG. 5B is a diagram showing the changes of the TOFduring the process of the lighting system controlling light propertiesin the illustrated example. First, before time point t1, because the TOFis TOF_(ground), which refers nothing but the ground is detected by theultrasonic transmitting-and-receiving device 22 in the detectable zone,the lighting system is operating in the standby mode and the lightproperties are maintained in the previous states (for example, lightcolor is white and light illumination is extremely strong). At timepoint t1, the TOF decreases to TOF₂ and the TOF₂ is maintained untiltime point t2. The period between time point t1 and time point t2 maybeone second, and the lighting system is switched to the control mode attime point t2. During time point t2 and time point t3, the TOP is keptat TOF₂, representing that the object 23 does not move, thus the lightproperties being maintained in the previous states (for example, lightcolor is white and light illumination is extremely strong). During timepoint t3 and time point t4, the TOF decreases from TOF₂ to TOF₄,referring that the object 23 (such as user's hand) is moving toward theultrasonic transmitting-and-receiving device 22. The lighting systemthen cyclically changes the light color. At time point t4, the TOFmeasured by the ultrasonic transmitting-and-receiving device 22 is nomore decreased and then increased, referring that the object 23 ismoving away from the ultrasonic transmitting-and-receiving device 22,and the lighting system then stops changing the light color andmaintains the light color (for example, light color is pink and lightillumination is extremely strong) at time point t4.

During the period of time point t4 and time point t5, the TOF increasesfrom TOF₄ to TOF₁, referring that the object 23 is moving away from theultrasonic transmitting-and-receiving device 22. The lighting systemthen cyclically changes the light illumination as preset during theperiod of time point t4 and time point t5. At time point t6 to t7, theTOF is decreased, which refers that the object 23 is moving toward theultrasonic transmitting-and-receiving device 22, the lighting systemthen stops changing the light illumination (for example, at time pointt6, light color is pink and light illumination is dim). During theperiod of time point t6 and time point t7, the TOF decreases from TOF₁to TOF₃, referring that the object 23 is moving toward the ultrasonictransmitting-and-receiving device 22. The lighting system thencyclically changes the light color during the period of time point t6and time point t7. During the period of time point t7 and time point t8,the TOF measured by the ultrasonic transmitting-and-receiving device 22is fixed at TOF₃. Because the TOF does not increase (the object 23 doesnot move), and the ultrasonic transmitting-and-receiving device 22 doesnot detect the object 23 moving out of the detectable zone (the TOF isnot TOF_(ground)), the lighting system then cyclically changes the lightcolor as preset. After time point t8, the TOF is increasing toTOF_(ground), which refers the object 23 is moving out of the detectablezone. The lighting system then stops changing the light color (forexample, at time point t8, light color is blue and light illumination isdim). Finally, the lighting system switches from the enable mode to thestandby mode.

The lighting system can cyclically change the light properties (forexample, light color or light illumination) according to a plurality oflight-property parameter sets. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an order of aplurality of light-property parameter sets for changing the lightproperties in the lighting system. As indicated, there are N sets oflight-property parameter and each light-property parameter set standsfor a specific light property. If a light-property parameter set, say,the 5th set, is represented the light property at this moment, then thelighting system will start to change the light property according to theorder of 5th->6th->7th->8th->9th->10th-> . . .->Nth->1st->2nd->3rd->4th->5th->6th-> . . . .

Specifically, if the light source of the lighting system includes RGBLEDs and the light-property parameter set stands for the power of theRGB LEDs, the lighting system can output a specific color through acorresponding light-property parameter set. FIG. 7A is a table showingtwelve sets of light-property parameter and each light-propertyparameter set includes three parameters standing for the power of the R,G, B LEDs, respectively. For example, the 1st light-property parameterset represents the R LED having a 100% output power; the G LED having a0% output power; and the R LED having a 0% output power. In other words,the lighting system will output light with 100% red color when the 1stlight-property parameter set is provided to the light source.

Specifically, if the light-property parameter set stands for the energyof light outputted from the light source, the lighting system couldoutput light with a specific illumination through a correspondinglight-property parameter set. FIG. 7B is a table showing ten sets oflight-property parameter, where each light-property parameter set standsfor the energy of the output light. For example, the 1st light-propertyparameter set represents the energy of output light is 100%. In otherwords, the lighting system will output light with a full illuminationwhen the 1st light-property parameter set is provided to the lightsource.

It is understood that the light properties are not limited to the lightcolor and light illumination in the present invention. Other lightproperties, such as light temperature, light glittering, light position,light zone, and even the switch of the lighting system, can becontrolled through the present invention.

While the invention has been described in terms of what is presentlyconsidered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is tobe understood that the invention needs not be limited to the disclosedembodiment. On the contrary, it is intended to cover variousmodifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit andscope of the appended claims which are to be accorded with the broadestinterpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similarstructures.

1. A lighting-system control method, applied to the lighting-systemincluding a light source and an ultrasonic transmitting-and-receivingdevice, the lighting-system control method being characterized bycomprising steps of: determining a distance between an object and theultrasonic transmitting-and-receiving device by the ultrasonictransmitting-and-receiving device according to a flight time of anultrasonic-wave; changing a first light property of the light sourcewhen the object is detected moving toward the ultrasonictransmitting-and-receiving device; and changing a second light propertyof the light source when the object is detected moving away from theultrasonic transmitting-and-receiving device.
 2. The lighting-systemcontrol method according to claim 1, characterized in that the firstlight property is the light color and the second light property is thelight illumination; or, the first light property is the lightillumination and the second light property is the light color.
 3. Thelighting-system control method according to claim 1, characterized inthat the light source is an LED.
 4. The lighting-system control methodaccording to claim 1, characterized in that the light source at leastincludes a red LED, a green LED, and a blue LED.
 5. The lighting-systemcontrol method according to claim 2, characterized in that changing thelight color further comprises steps of: providing a plurality of colorparameter sets, wherein the light source can output light with acorresponding color when receiving a specific color parameter set; andoutputting the plurality of color parameter sets with a specific periodand a specific order to the light source.
 6. The lighting-system controlmethod according to claim 2, characterized in that changing the lightillumination further comprises steps of: providing a plurality ofillumination parameter sets, wherein the light source can output lightwith a corresponding illumination when receiving a specific illuminationparameter set; and outputting the plurality of illumination parametersets with a specific period and a specific order to the light source. 7.A lighting-system control method, applied to the lighting-systemincluding a light source and an ultrasonic transmitting-and-receivingdevice, the lighting-system control method being characterized bycomprising steps of: switching to a standby mode when the lightingsystem is turned on; determining a distance between an object and theultrasonic transmitting-and-receiving device by utilizing the ultrasonictransmitting-and-receiving device in the standby mode, switching thelighting system from the standby mode to an enable mode if the distanceis maintained in a specific range over a specific period, otherwise,keeping the lighting system in the standby mode; changing a first lightproperty of the light source if the object is detected moving toward theultrasonic transmitting-and-receiving device when the lighting system isoperating in the enable mode; changing a second light property of thelight source if the object is detected moving away from the ultrasonictransmitting-and-receiving device when the lighting system is operatingin the enable mode; and switching the lighting system to the standbymode if the object is not detected.
 8. The lighting-system controlmethod according to claim 7, characterized in that the first lightproperty is the light color and the second light property is the lightillumination; or, the first light property is the light illumination andthe second light property is the light color.
 9. The lighting-systemcontrol method according to claim 7, characterized in that the lightsource is an LED.
 10. The lighting-system control method according toclaim 7, characterized in that the light source at least consists of ared LED, a green LED, and a blue LED.
 11. The lighting-system controlmethod according to claim 8, characterized in that changing the lightcolor further comprises steps of: providing a plurality of colorparameter sets, wherein the light source can output light with acorresponding color when receiving a specific color parameter set; andoutputting the plurality of color parameter sets with a specific periodand a specific order to the light source.
 12. The lighting-systemcontrol method according to claim 8, characterized in that changing thelight illumination further comprises steps of: providing a plurality ofillumination parameter sets, wherein the light source can output lightwith a corresponding illumination when receiving a specific illuminationparameter set; and outputting the plurality of illumination parametersets with a specific period and a specific order to the light source.